Stephen's story

When Stephen returned to the UK after working abroad, he couldn’t find work which meant he couldn’t get a home.

Stephen stayed with his daughter, was forced to sleep on sofas at friends’ houses and in friends’ art studios on an inflatable bed. Here, he tells his story - and how Crisis have supported him twice out of homelessness.

Meeting Crisis for the first time

“10 years ago, I was forced into homelessness. My teaching contract wasn’t renewed, and I couldn’t make ends meet. I struggled with my mental health and couldn’t get work.

“I was homeless and slept in phone boxes and on the streets in Islington. When I was admitted to hospital, the clinical psychologist put me in touch with Crisis and that’s when I first met the charity.

“Crisis helped me into a home, gave me my own art studio at a Crisis project and helped me get a job in Oman teaching A-level Art."

Returning from abroad

“I was in Oman for eight years and returned with savings. When I got back, I found it difficult to get rented accommodation.

“It was so hard to find a home to rent without having a job. One person said they would take me on, but they wanted a £10,000 deposit because I wasn't working. I applied for so many jobs. I rented a little store in Islington and tried to sell my artwork, but over two years, I didn’t have enough money to cover the essentials.

“I couldn’t believe it was happening again. And at the same time the anxiety and depression that I had experienced a long time ago, started to slowly come back.

“At this time, I was staying with my daughter and moving around between family members. I wanted to support my family as much as I could when I was sofa surfing but within a year, I had half the money I saved. It got to the stage where it was becoming more difficult to stay with my daughter and she asked me to leave.

“I went to Islington council who struggled to find anything suitable for me because there wasn’t much around, so I slept on sofas at friends’ houses and in friends’ art studios on an inflatable bed. It was about six weeks after I’d been to the council that I went back to Crisis, and my lead worker, Jeremy, helped with doctor’s appointments, got me benefits advice, and pushed the council."

Getting support from Crisis

“Jeremy applied to food places in the area and found a pantry in Islington, where they do fresh vegetables and other stuff. For a little while, I got back into the art classes at the Skylight and funnily enough, they still have the same table from ten years ago that they used to have in the old art room at Crisis Bermondsey project.

“Thanks to Jeremy and Crisis, I’m now in an amazing flat that is my home. I appreciate everything that Crisis has done for me.

“I'm a two-minute walk from the river Avon. I’m going to do a lot of painting and will try and get some local places to sell my art. I can also now apply for other things and maybe even get a little part time job.

"Now I feel safe, I’ve got a home and I’m able to focus on having some sort of future. And that's important for anyone because it's your dignity.

“Rents are going up, bills are high and there are lots of other pressures. It’s important that people know about these situations and that there are a lot of people in this situation right now.”

Image: iStock.com/Vagengeym_Elena